NASS leadership crisis: Leave Maikasuwa alone

A call has gone to
Senators, politicians
and some government
institutions attempting
to drag the Clerk of
the National Assembly,
Salisu Maikasuwa, into the
Senate crisis that resulted
in the emergence of Senator
Bukola Saraki as Senate
President, to desist.
Observers and close
watchers of the nation’s
foremost parliament have
warned the Ahmed Lawan
group and other political
institutions to leave the
Clerk alone for the sake
of peace and the nation’s
growing democracy.
According to an analysts
who spoke to this paper
in anonymity, said what
transpired on Tuesday,
June 9, 2015 was a clear
constitutional obligation
expected of the Clerk,
“and that he legitimately
carried out without fear or
favour.”
He noted that Maikasuwa
acted in accordance with
the correspondence from
Mr. President proclaiming
the eighth National
Assembly, from whence
elections were conducted
by him and other clerks
of the various chambers
in line with constitutional
provisions and rules of
both Houses.
Speaking against the
backdrop of a statement
credited to Senator
Barnabas Gemade: Intaalia,
“The Clerk of the
National Assembly (Salisu
Maikasuwa), knowing
full well that the quorum
for election of the Senate
President was not met,
went ahead to conduct an
election that shut the door
against about 51 other
senators. This will remain
unacceptable until what
would meet democratic
parameters is done.”
Another public affairs
commentator, Austine
Kay, noted that it was
unfortunate that such
comment would come
from Senator Gemade, who
is expected to know the
rules of engagements in
parliament, especially
as it bothers on a unique
day like the proclamation
and inauguration of the
National Parliament.
“Gemade and his group
should stop whipping
sentiments and face the
reality that the Clerk of the
National Assembly merely
performed his rightful
duties.”z
He stated that in the
National Assembly,
besides signing bills
enacted by the two Houses
for onward transmission
for the President’s assent
, the other most significant
assignment of the Clerk
is conducting elections
into positions of presiding
officers in the Senate and
House of Reps, and that is
just what he did, no more,
no less.”
The stakeholders
warned against any act of
intimidation or harassment
of Mr. Maikasuwa by
any government section,
political party as well as
the aggrieve senators as
such action will be resisted
by them